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Traffic Impact and Access Study MGM Springfield

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Traffic Impact and Access Study MGM Springfield TRAFFIC IMPACT AND ACCESS STUDY — TEC, INC. Traffic Impact and Access Study MGM Springfield Prepared for: MGM Resorts International Global Gaming Development, LLC Prepared by: TEC, Inc. 65 Glenn Street Lawrence, Massachusetts 01843 December 17, 2012 1 Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................................ i List of Figures ....................................................................................................................................................................... ii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 I. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3 II. Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Traffic Study Area ............................................................................................................................... 4 Roadway Geometry ............................................................................................................................ 4 Intersection Geometry ....................................................................................................................... 6 Existing Traffic Volumes ................................................................................................................... 10 Seasonal Adjustment ........................................................................................................................ 12 III. Future Conditions ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 Background Traffic Growth .............................................................................................................. 13 No‐Build Traffic Volumes .................................................................................................................. 15 Site Access Summary ........................................................................................................................ 15 Site Generated Traffic ....................................................................................................................... 16 Trip Distribution ................................................................................................................................ 20 Redistributed Traffic (Closure of Howard and Bliss Streets) ........................................................... 22 Build Traffic Volumes ........................................................................................................................ 22 IV. Traffic Operations Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Methodology..................................................................................................................................... 23 Unsignalized Intersections ............................................................................................................... 24 Signalized Intersections .................................................................................................................... 27 V. Intersection and Roadway Improvements .............................................................................................................. 33 Intersection Capacity and Safety Improvements ............................................................................ 33 Transportation Demand Management ............................................................................................ 34 VI. Parking Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 39 Parking Supply .................................................................................................................................. 39 Parking Demand................................................................................................................................ 39 VI. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................................... 42 TEC, Inc. i 2 List of Figures No. Title 1 Project Location Map 2 2012 Existing Conditions – Weekday Evening and Saturday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 3 2022 No-Build Conditions – Weekday Evening and Saturday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 4 Site Circulation – Patron & Employee Car Traffic 5 Site Circulation – Bus & Delivery Truck Access 6 Site Circulation – Pedestrian & Shuttle Access 7 Trip Distribution – Casino & Hotel Employees 8 Trip Distribution – Casino & Hotel Patrons 9 Trip Distribution – Armory Square Retail Center 10 NET Site Generated Trips – Weekday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 11 NET Site Generated Trips – Saturday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 12 Total Trip Distribution – All Users – Entering Volumes 13 Total Trip Distribution – All Users – Exiting Volumes 14 NET Redistributed Trips – Weekday Evening and Saturday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 15 2022 Build Conditions – Weekday Evening and Saturday Midday Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 16 Route Options & Traffic Management for I-291 17 Route Options & Traffic Management for I-91 Northbound 18 Route Options & Traffic Management for I-91 Southbound TEC, Inc. ii 3 Executive Summary MGM Resorts International Global Gaming Development, LLC (MGM) proposes to construct a dynamic mixed-use casino, entertainment, hotel, shopping center, and residential apartment complex in the downtown core. The project site is bordered by East Columbus Avenue, State Street, Main Street, and Union Street. It was selected because it has significant potential for redevelopment, situated in an area of prior extensive tornado damage, and able to be woven into the fabric of an increasingly vibrant downtown. It lies is close proximity to several interstate highway ramps yet it is intricately tied to the downtown pedestrian experience along Main Street. The proposed uses, supply of parking, and pedestrian access points are expected to complement and revitalize the adjacent businesses and uses in Springfield’s South End, such as the MassMutual Convention Center. The site is currently occupied by multiple commercial, municipal, retail establishments, and for-fee surface parking fields and structures. MGM proposes to raze a majority of the structures on the site and construct the following: 592,700 SF casino resort that includes space for back of the house (BOH), retail / restaurant uses, and banquet facilities in addition to the gaming space 294-room multi-story hotel 54 residential apartment units 140,000 SF retail and entertainment center known as Armory Square, which will include multiple tenants, restaurants, event plaza, a multi-screen cinema and bowling alley 4,800-stall multi-story parking garage This following study is based on current traffic data collected at key study area intersections in August and November 2012. The traffic projections for the proposed casino complex are based on historic studies and MGM-specific data from a comparable facility in Detroit. The trip characteristics for the proposed complex are compatible with the adjacent uses because their peaking events are different. Parking data was collected to understand the needs for the adjacent courthouse and the downtown businesses. The courthouse and office uses see their demand peak in the weekday morning and midday periods when the casino complex is less active. Conversely, those same uses generate a negligible number of trips when the casino is most active during the weekday evening and weekend periods. This symbiosis of land uses allows for a shared parking supply in the MGM parking structure that can be used without fee. The vehicular access configuration for the site was determined after a careful review of the capacity of the area street system. Fortunately, the streets and intersections have reserve capacity to handle additional traffic. The four Interstate 91 and 291 exits serving this area of downtown can accommodate regional traffic associated with the casino development. The multiple access points to the highway network and the downtown will create additional bypass traffic for downtown businesses while avoiding the residential neighborhoods. One key to the successful management of traffic is public information. TEC will be working with the City and State staff to identify measures, such as social media and intelligent transportation and information systems, to route traffic to the most appropriate route. TEC, Inc. 1 4 This preliminary traffic impact study demonstrates that the surface intersections, with modest improvements, can accommodate the entire development program and still attain acceptable levels of service. All intersections are expected to operate at an overall level of service D or better when assessed in a 10-year horizon. This means that there is still reserve capacity following construction of the MGM facility to accommodate
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